Something as simple as wearing a helmet while riding a bicycle may not seem like a big deal, but for someone new to bikes — or anyone really — it helps keep them safe. Riding bikes might not be a very dangerous act, but if you change a bike to a larger, faster and automatic ATV (all-terrain vehicle) or OHV (off-highway vehicle), the little safety measures matter even more.
The first thoughts when starting to drive an ATV or OHV in a rural area might be, “I live in a small town, I’ll be fine,” or “There’s no one here, I can break the rules a little bit,” which can seem like harmless thoughts. But these thoughts can lead to ignorance of important safety precautions and even cause accidents or injuries.
Rules for OHV Safety
Even if no other vehicle is nearby, there are rules that an OHV driver should follow to stay safe. Wearing a helmet, gloves and glasses can help keep one’s body and eyes safe from the terrain and nature and save a life if there is a crash. Never drive an ATV or OHV while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and make sure you have proper training to handle an ATV or OHV. These simple rules are what keep the drivers, passengers and bystanders safe.
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commision website states that there is “an annual average of more than 700 deaths and an estimated 100,000 emergency department-treated injuries involving OHVs. … From 2016 through 2018, there were 2,211 deaths in the United States associated with OHVs.”
It continued, “Nearly 300 deaths were among children under the age of 16.”
Utah set a new law in January of 2023 to hopefully cut down the number of deaths and injuries caused by OHV accidents. The law requires all OHV operators to take a free, 30-minute online course. Operators under the age of 18 are to possess a youth OHV educator certificate that allows them to drive on public land or a road or trail. Operators 18 and older should possess an approved adult OHV education certificate.
To learn more and take the course go to https://recreation.utah.gov/off-highway-vehicles/ohv-education-course/.
– by Ari Hurdsman (18) Junction
Ari Hurdsman – Junction
Ari Hurdsman is a junior journalist at the Byway. She just recently moved to Ephraim, Utah, where she is a freshman at Snow College. She enjoys writing about Piute sports, and she’s really good at it! In her free time, she enjoys singing, dancing, reading and hanging out with friends and family.